Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee - Page Text Content

FC: Maniac Magee By: Jerry Spinelli Created by: Kory Larson

1: There are five main characters in this book I would like to tell you about. The first is Jeffery Lionel Magee, a 11 year old white boy born in Bridgeport. He was orphaned at the age of 3, and went to live with his Aunt and Uncle in Pennsylvania, 8 years later he ran away in search of a better home. He left the West side where white people live to go to the East side where black people live. Jeffery later was nick named Maniac because of his fast running, he also likes to read books. Amanda Beale is an 11 year old black girl and the first friend Jeffery made. He meet her as she was walking to school, and carrying a suitcase full of books. She let him borrow one and invited him to stay at her house when she found out he was homeless.

2: Grayson is a 40 year old black handyman that lives on the Eastside. Grayson used to be in the Minor leagues as a pitcher. He is now a zoo hand. He always bought Maniac krimpets. McNab is a 13 year old black boy, from the East side. He is a nice boy that Jeffery likes to hang out with. The last character I wanted to tell you about is Mars Bars. He is also a 13 year old black boy who lives on the Eastside. Jeffery had a race against him and won. They became friends and ran together every morning.

3: Next I'd like to tell you about the setting. Jeffery started his life in Bridgeport. He then moved to Two Mills which is a black community on the East side , on the West side there is a white community. The East and West sides are separated by the river his parents fell off of.

4: The major problem in this story was Maniac Magee trying to find a home to live in. The solution was that first he moved in with Amanda Beales family, he ran away to keep the family from getting teased. He then stayed at a buffalo pen in a zoo. The park hand Grayson invited Maniac to stay with him at the baseball equipment room. Later on Grayson died and Maniac lived on the streets until he was invited to the McNab house. The McNab kids kicked Maniac out and he went back to the zoo again. Finally Amanda was sent to the zoo by Mars Bars to get Maniac. Amanda told Maniac "your coming to live with me at my house and your going to sleep there tonight and every night"!

5: My favorite scene was when Maniac accomplished untying the knot at Cobbles Corner store. The knot was 4 and 1/2 blocks long. Amanda thought he would be good at it because he was good at untying knots for others. It took one day to accomplish untying the knot. For winning he got one pizza a week for a year.

6: If I were a new character in the book I would be named Flash. My role would be to be Maniacs best friend. I would offer him a home to stay in when ever he wanted. As friends we like to run on the railroad tracks and around the East and West ends.

7: I was friends with McNab too. He joined us on our early morning runs. The end of the story is staying the exact same way. Maniac Magee stayed living with Amanda but he had alot of sleepovers at are house.